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Auction: 18038 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 3114

Autographs
German East Africa
Naval Aviation in German East Africa
1916 a photograph album of the 'Manica', a hot air balloon used during World War I in German East Africa by its pilot, Commander W.E. Whittingham. Contains one hundred and seventy six photographs on fifty eight card leaves. The images as of various sizes, mostly measuring approx 100 x 80 mm, some are faded and there is some light foxing in places. Most are captioned in pencil. Recently rebound in brown half morocco with grey boards.

The album shows various theatres of operation along the coast of German East Africa and in Zanzibar. H.M.S. 'Manica' was a tramp steamer converted to be able to deploy an observation balloon to assist artillery guns find their range. She arrived in East Africa in April 1916 and served with other ships in the capture of all the seaports in German East Africa. Playing a particularly important role in the capture of Bagamoyo, the album contains pictures of this, including the incendiary bombs dropped on Bagamoyo from 2000 feet. There is also a series of photographs showing the workings of the observation balloon.

The majority of the images are good with some very fine and are accompanied by captions, some humourous as well as informative, along with the usual views of natives, monuments, colleagues and pets. A rare record of this little known aspect of the war in Africa. Photo

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Sold for
£1,400